April 23

What do you want Jesus to do for you?

Easter is over until next year.  The Hallelujah Chorus has been sung.  The chocolate bunnies have been eaten, the hidden eggs have been found, and the baskets are carefully stowed away.  Only the blades of bright green, plastic grass that keep showing up in the oddest places around the house still remind us of Easter. In fact, we are already making plans for the next holiday on our busy calendars.

But what if we lingered for awhile in Easter? Not the one of chocolate and eggs and plastic grass.  But the Easter of Jesus.

I close my eyes and imagine what it would be like to linger with Jesus.  I wonder what he would say to me. Would he speak in parables or ask me questions as he so often did with the disciples?  In the Bible, Jesus asks of James and John, What do you want Me to do for you? (Mark 10:35-36)  He asks the same question of the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, later in the chapter.

What do you want Me to do for you?

Now, close your eyes and imagine Jesus asking you this question.  How does it feel to be asked?  What do you think your response would be?

In this Easter season of celebration, rebirth and new beginnings, let’s linger with Jesus.  Let Him ask us, what do you want Me to do for you?  We can trust Him with our answers.

 Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus.  And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!”  And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.”  Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road. (Mark 10:50-52 NASB).